MEDIA & PUBLICATIONS

Bacteria Get Funky in Space. Scientists Are Fighting With Metal

“Bacteria, both good and bad, go wherever humans do. Understanding their quirks in outer space is key to preserving astronauts’ health.

Journeying into the vast outer reaches of space might seem an exercise in isolation. But even when pushing the boundaries of the final frontier, humans are never truly alone: Everywhere we go, a few trillion microbial hitchhikers come along.

In most cases, that’s a plus: Host-microbe partnerships are a necessary part of human existence. But occasionally, these relationships sour. And outside the constraints of Earth’s gravity, the rules of infection can shift.”